+++ 奇跡国 - Miracle Country +++

[Look at that calendar, dear Kiseki residents! Do you see what day is today? Do you?

Exactly

It's Harry Dresden's birthday! Yay!

It's such an important date that the land itself decided to throw a themed party for him, in which he's trapped and unable to leave before midnight. Therefore, starting at around 10 am, a big section of the park starts resembling Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!

That'd be the wrong wizard named Harry but who cares as long as the food is good, right?

We have, among other things, a Quidditch field with brooms that don't fly - unless except MAYBE if you ask an actual wizard to enchant them -, a TARDIS-sized Shrieking Shack, and a replica of the Great Hall where there are tables with lots of food and cake and more cake and the ceiling is just like the sky… No, wait. That is the actual sky.

Oh, oh. I guess it's Halloween too. Thus, some of the characters who wander inside the party zone may have their clothes changed to the Hogwarts house they'd be in if they were students. Even if they have never heard of anything Potter.]

((OOC: Everyone is welcome to the party! And welcome to mingle, of course =) You can give your good wishes to the birthday boy in his thread here))

[Today seemed as though it would be another quiet day in Miracle Country. Mild weather, a peaceful atmosphere, people probably had no idea anything would soon be wrong when they set off to work, school, or a day of goofing around.

Soon it'll be clear it won't be that simple. Creeping out from the forests and from within the lake or ocean, some creatures will set out to attack others. Becoming impossible to stop at the exact moment of this attack, these monsters will set out to steal something important to people: an ability they have, or an important personality trait, which will now take the form of a tangible, brightly glowing light.

The monsters don't seem to want them for themselves, however. They'll either sneak away quickly, and end up hiding what they took in some difficult place, or they'll challenge the owner - or anyone else who'd like to step up and fight - to a battle for the stolen traits or abilities.

If the creatures get away from you, either because they've gone off to hide your skill/trait or because the battle was lost somehow, the owner of what was lost will always be able to find their skill or trait eventually, as their presence will call back to them. Similarly, if they find someone else's lost skill or trait, they'll be able to know it's not their own. Perhaps they'll want to give it back, too, or maybe even keep it for themselves for a while? While they cannot absorb the abilities or traits themselves, it could be a good way to manipulate others or get a favor from them...]

[[Mingle for the lost traits event! Keep in mind the timing, since any new post opened until the 21st will be happening within the context of this event.]]

[The video starts out with the above image, of a few jack-o-lanterns set up on Snow's teachers desk, and a moment later there's a small, almost self-conscious laugh as she holds up the journal to get a better view.]

I thought it'd be a nice thing for everyone to do today. [Arts and crafts is getting hands-on today, kids.] If you want to carve a pumpkin, come on down to the playground at the school today. We have picnic tables set up for carving, and you can make pumpkins like these here.

Everyone's welcome to join in... I have lots of pumpkins, and with Halloween so near, it'd be great to get into the spirit of it all.


[Anyone passing by the school today, or having seen the video, is free to join in on the pumpkin-carving. Snow's got a big collection of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, and will be handling the actual knives part for the younger kids -- and strictly supervising the older ones (and, lbr, the adults too)

And she's set up some other Halloween activities, such as making ghosts, and of course there are some some treats and goodies for anyone who doesn't want to put in too much effort]



[ooc: this is open for basic mingling, too, should you so desire!]

[Things at the bike shop today are looking interesting as the journals show a video from the counter, of Asami working in an aside area usually designated for repairs. At the moment, it's set up for her to do modifications for several bikes she's trying to put a new spin on. Not just your average bikes either, thanks to the engines she's building and the design. Cool, right?]

[Still, she seems distracted, for a moment forgetting herself in front of Neal (who is also in the shop working) as her thoughts wander--concerned since Korra's disappearance. Her attention does snap back to focus, though.]

Neal, I'm so sorry. I really don't have my head in the game today, do I?

What do you think about opening up the garage and trying out a couple of tests with these? I don't think they're ready for riding yet, but...

There's still a couple of things I'd like to make sure are working so far.

[If you want to pass by and see the two of them getting up to shenanigans, or get curious about what's going on, come on by!]

[Everywhere. They're being put up everywhere. On trees, on buildings, in the park, on benches, on trash cans, on the sidewalk... for any of the individuals who look down when they walk. Since Ioryogi isn't allowed to be seen walking or talking or writing in journals, she's got to take things into her own hands...! So if he's here, she's determined to find him!

She can be found attempting to hang her Wanted posters up in any kind of ridiculous place. And if she sees someone, she'll be sure to press a poster into the individual's hand.]

Excuse me! Have you seen this stuffed animal?

[Ever since the start of this week, you may have noticed a change in the weather and the general mood of Kiseki. Yes, summer is over. While it was really quite warm following up to this week, this week it's a little cooler, a little crisper - and other than the sakura tree that's always in bloom, all the other trees in the park and forests have begun to change color and fall. Fall is here in Miracle Country!

This week, maybe you need a little adjusting. Need to buy some warmer clothes? Have a sudden urge to eat something pumpkin-flavored or caramel-flavored? There are piles of leaves to hop into, maybe.

And throughout this week, the crisp, clear skies may cloud over and it'll start to drizzle, and sometimes even just rain. It'll drizzle throughout the day with some sun breaks, but it's definitely a clear indication of the change in the seasons.

But when it's not raining, and your character feels like exploring, they'll find literal cornicopias of fruits and vegetables all throughout the garden island, the park, and the forests. Sample them for yourselves, or perhaps make a pie with them.

Autumn is a time of harvest and abundance but also a time of waning sunlight and longer nights... so perhaps you feel that shift in the air, and are left reflecting on it.

Regardless, autumn is here.]

This Saturday night, when it’s quiet enough and nothing around you is moving, as the night progresses and you look up at the sky, you see that the moon is, slowly, turning red and then fading from sight – an eclipse, blocking out the moon entirely.

Along with this eclipse, you might begin to hear the steady drip-drip-drip of moving water. Quiet at first, just a few drips and drops, like rainfall or a faucet that forgot to be turned off. And then the sound of water grows louder, and louder, and suddenly the ground feels a little wet. And steadily, as the night fades into morning, the water just keeps on rising, flooding everything. It starts ankle-deep but it slowly begins to rise, inch by inch. There’s no use going for higher ground, though, because the water just keeps on rising.

Soon, as the day progresses, everything is underwater. The buildings crumble down due to sudden erosion, and the entire island is covered. Plants, trees, grass, walkways, hotels… it’s all gone, beneath the water. There are parts, throughout the island, where the water is shallow enough to stand in, so don’t fear drowning. There are other parts, though, that are deep as can be – and if you peer down into the water deep enough, you can see the ruins of lost ships and lost cities, and if you peer even deeper, you’ll see the underwater caves, settled down beneath coral reefs and underwater vents.

There are pockets of dry land, only large enough to hold a few people at once – but fear not, for it is dry land. But don’t be surprised if it suddenly disappears beneath the water and resurfaces elsewhere throughout the day or night. But it isn’t your only means to get out of swimming: there will be rafts floating throughout the watery paradise, and when it comes to sleeping and eating – there are large trees growing high from the water, with tree-houses for your convenience.

Afraid of going under the water? Anyone who braves the deep dives will find that they can hold their breath for much longer than they thought. It might also seem like they’re basically breathing under water. But certainly it makes exploring all the things under the water much easier.

[Zero is feeding one of the cuckoo toys on one of the counters of Hinahito. It's a sleepy little thing and quickly nods off. The first thing you might notice about Hinahito--is it's really quiet. Zero has done a pretty spectacular job of putting all of the toys he's found to sleep as quick as possible.]

I seem to have things under control down here at Hanahito, if any of you want to get away from the noise.

[He's been running things pretty much on his own since Shara left with help from the few employees that had been recruited right before she went missing.]

My food costs are taking a hit, but--

[There is a stray cuckoo sounding, it's quiet but Zero immediately drops the subject and starts opening cupboards to track it down.]

At least we're open.

[He moves a large sack out of the way, only to have a stream of crystals spill out onto the floor.]

Dammit. Did you have to get into the salt?

[Tonight, after an uneventful, peaceful day, it'll be the perfect moment to sleep and relax and get ready for another morning in Kiseki.

Except not, because apparently someone doesn't want people to be able to sleep. Late into the night, coming out of various places around the hotels and outside of them there will be a probably familiar sound. If you bother to look it up, you'll find cuckoo toys hiding in cupboards, under beds, on top of shelves, and so on. These will not only do the usual cry, but carry a sign around their necks saying feed me.

If ignored for long, their crying will only get louder and louder. Can you simply destroy these? Absolutely, but only to be replaced by others eventually. So the solution is, obviously, to feed them!

What do they like? It depends. Some of them will take any kind of edible food, others might be pickier and want specific things - sweets, or vegetables, and so on. How insufferable or not your little bird toy is, is up to the players. And yes, the toy will physically eat the food given to them, although they won't be too responsive beyond that. Once full, the bird toy will close its eyes and seemingly fall asleep.

And more importantly, it will shut up.]

[Anyone listening to the journal or passing by the Welcome Center today will hear a baby's cry and Snow White shushing him, cradling him close and rocking him gently, trying to get him to sleep again, even though it's clear that she's moving relatively quickly, all things considered, in order to find Emma and Charming]

Shhh... it's alright. It's alright now. [She smiles, soft, as the baby shushes] We'll find them...